How to pronounce acknowledge
Say it like ak-NAH-lij. Acknowledge has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce acknowledge. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ak
- NAH
- lij
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Acknowledge pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- akKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- NAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- lijKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of acknowledge
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: uk-NOL-ij.
What does acknowledge mean?
- declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of“He admitted his errors”“She acknowledged that she might have forgotten”
- report the receipt of“The program committee acknowledged the submission of the authors of the paper”
- express recognition of the presence or existence of, or acquaintance with“He never acknowledges his colleagues when they run into him in the hallway”“She acknowledged his complement with a smile”
Where does acknowledge come from?
The /k/-sound was preserved by being redistributed to the preceding syllable: /əˈkn-/ > /əkˈn-/.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with acknowledge
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of acknowledge.
Questions about saying acknowledge
How do you pronounce acknowledge?
Say ak-NAH-lij. The American pronunciation is /ækˈnɑlɪdʒ/. In British English it is /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in acknowledge?
Acknowledge has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAH). Broken into parts: ak · NAH · lij.
Is acknowledge pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /əkˈnɒlɪdʒ/ (uk-NOL-ij).